DETERMINANTS AND STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR ENHANCING WOMEN’S ACCESS TO QUALITY EMPLOYMENT IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The article examines the factors that determine women’s access to quality employment in the Republic of Kazakhstan and substantiates strategic directions to reduce gender disparities in the labour market. The empirical basis of the study is data from a sample survey of population employment. The total volume of the analysed sample was 6,000 observations. To assess the determinants of quality employment, logit and linear regression models were applied, and a comprehensive employment quality index was developed that accounted for the nature of employment, working hours, the formality of labour relations, the presence of social protection, and wage levels. The study results showed that the share of quality employment among women is 40.7%, and among men, 45.3%, corresponding to a gender gap of 4.6 percentage points. The average value of the comprehensive employment quality index for women is 2.2 points lower than for men. Econometric estimates indicate that the statistically significant negative effect of being female persists even after controlling for educational, demographic, and structural characteristics. Education and accumulated work experience positively affect the quality of employment, whereas the presence of minor children is associated with a reduced likelihood of access to high‑quality jobs. Special attention is paid to the regional and sectoral differentiation of women’s employment. Based on the results obtained, strategic directions are proposed, including developing gender‑neutral personnel practices, expanding opportunities for women’s professional and digital training, improving childcare infrastructure, applying differentiated regional measures to promote employment, and further developing women’s entrepreneurship.